Moving-picture machine.



N. T. NILSSON.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2?. 1916.

7 1 9- 1 ST FOE my n E m m4 Bu m P Witness N. T. NILSSON.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2I. 191s.

Patented June 5, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N. T. NILSSON.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

N. T. NILSSON.

MOVING PICTURE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1916.

Patented Julie 5, 191?.

4 SHEETS-SHEET Witn e55 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICHOLAUS T. NILSSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF FIFTY ONE-HUN- DREDTHS TO SAMUEL EVANS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOVING-PICTURE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Application filed March 27, 1916. Serial N 0. 86,986.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LTICHOLAUS T. NILssoN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Moving- Picture Machines, of which the following, when taken in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming a part hereof, is a specification.

To those familiar with the moving picture art it is known that at the present time it is customary to have a series of photographically obtained pictures on a transparent film, to provide a condenser, a lens, a shutter, and a curtain; all in planes which are substantially parallel, but said curtain being at a considerable distance from the remainder of the above recited elements, and means to successively move the pictures on the film into an additional plane which is also parallel to the several planes named; said pictures being positioned between said condenser and said lens, said movement of said ribbon comprising alternate periods of movement and rest, and said shutter being positioned between said lens and said curtain.

It is also Well known that by the above named apparatus the pictures contained on said film are projected on to said curtain; that by said projection said pictures are enlarged, and to obtain well defined pictures on said curtain the hall, chamber or other place in which said curtain and the spectators of said pijctures are positioned must be darkened and the source of light used must be artificial, intense, and of many candle power.

The principal objects of this invention are to obtain means to expose enlarged views of photographically obtained pictures on a transparent or film ribbon, simultaneously to a number of persons, without projecting the same on to' a curtain, and without darkening the room or place in which the device and the persons viewing said enlarged pictures are placed, and to obtain a device of the character named, wherein either sunlight or artificial light may be used for operating the same, and one wherein, if said light be artificial, it may be of low intensity and candle power, as, for instance, a kerosene lamp, or even a candle.

A further object is to obtain a device of the character named wherein photographically or otherwise obtained pictures on an opaque ribbon may be enlarged and exposed to view, aS above set forth.

A further object is to obtain a moving picture device of the kind described which is readily convertible from one adapted to expose to view an opaque ribbon or a film ribbon.

A further object is to obtain a device for the purpose above set forth, which will be in and of itself a unit into which a person or persons desiring to observe enlarged pictures may look, without particular reference to the quantity of light outside of said unit and without requiring a particular position of the eyes of said observer.

A further object is to obtain means for shutting off the light which is directed toward, to or on to pictures which are to be enlarged, during the time said ribbon is being moved to successively expose said picturesto the enlarging and viewing elements of the device.

Further objects are to obtain a device which will be of presentable appearance, easily operated, not liable to get out of order, and economically made and operated.

Further objects are set forth in the description and claims.

I have illustrated a device embodying this invention in the drawings referred to in which Figure 1, is a side elevation, with the doors on'said side opened to expose to view the operative parts thereof.

Fig. 2, is an elevation at an angle of 90 degrees from the elevation in Fig. 1, with the side of the cabinet of the device removed to expose the operating parts to view.

Fig. 3, is a horizontal view on line 33 of Fig. 1, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing some parts in horizontal section. Fig. 4, is an elevation on line 4ll of Fig. 2, viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows showing the shutter shaft of the device in vertical section. Fig. is a diagrammatic view showing the path of light toward an opaque picture to be viewed, and toward and through a transparent film.

A reference character applied to designate a given part indicates said part throughout the several figures of the drawing wherever the same appears.

A, is a cabinet in which the operative parts of the device are inclosed.

B, are the walls of an aperture through which the moving pictures in the device are viewed, and B are doors to said aperture.

C, is a door adapted to close an aperture for light, and also to form a shelf on which a lamp may be "placed, when opened.

0, is a lam on door 0. D is an additional door which is adapted to close a light aperture. The aperture closed by door C admits light for the pictures on a film or on a transparent ribbon and the door D closes the light aperture which. is used when the moving pictures are on an opaque ribbon. E is a reflector which forms a combined reflector and curtain when film pictures are being viewed, and a reflector when opaque pictures are to be viewed. The frame of the reflector E is provided with the pins or gudgeons 6, c and FF are guides or runways in which the ins or gudgeons 6, 6 are respectively movab e.

When the film picture is exposed to view ,the combined reflector and curtain E is in substantially the position which is illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2 and when the device is used for exposing to view pictures on an opaque ribbon the said reflector E is in substantially the position indicated by broken lines in said Fig. 2.

To obtain the results sought by me I find it necessary to make the face of the combined reflector and curtain E of paper, aluminum, (roughened), (not bright) or material having a like surface, that is of material other than glass or metal having a high polish.

The lens tubes of the device are provided with lenses and means to focus the same on a picture which is sought to be viewed; said picture being one of the many which are on the ribbon X and successively brought into position for viewing by means hereinafter described.

G represents a lens tube and G represents an additional lens tube which is movably mounted in lens tube G. His a lever pivotally mounted on rod h and connected to the lens tube Gr by means of link H and pins M. if. H is a vertically movable rod pivotally connected at its lower end to the lever H b pin h and at its upper end fitting loose y in bearing h. H is a set screw to the bearing k by means of which the rod H is secured in position with the lenses in the lens tubes focused on the ribbon to be viewed.

I is a mirror pivotally mounted at J and provided with handle 7', by means of which it is adjusted. The function of mirror I is,

merely, to make the picture on the horizontal table X appear in a perpendicular plane; and I am aware that a mirror so mounted to perform said function is common in the optical art.

K is a rotatably mounted shaft and 7c is a crank by means of which said shaft is rotated. L is a belt wheel rigidly secured on shaft K. Fig. 1,is an arrow showing the direction in which the belt wheel L is operatively rotated.

M, is a belt wheel rotated on shaft m, and m, is a belt for transmitting the rotation of Wheel L to wheel M.

N, is a gear wheel rigidly mounted on shaft m. The gear wheel N intermeshes with gear wheel at on shaft N.

The ribbon X having pictures which are designed to be successively viewed, is wound on reel Y, and, one end of said ribbon being secured to reel Y is (in the operation of the machine) wound on to reel Y as the same is taken from said reel Y. M, is a crank arm on shaft N which, produces the successive forward movements of the ribbon X over the table X in the transfer of said ribbon from reel Y and Y, in the operation of the device. The rotation of the reels, Y, Y, is obtained by means of belts 7 y and the direction in which said reels turn is indicated by arrows adjacent thereto, in Fig. 1.

The means used for transferring the ribbon from reel Y to reel Y as last before described, is no essential part of this invention, and further description of the mechanism used is not considered necessary.

O, 0 represent a clutch on shaft N; O ,'being the part of said clutch which is movable on but rotatable with said shaft, and 0 being the part which is loosely mounted on the shaft. 0 is a spring on the shaft, yieldingly holding part 0 in engagement with part 0. 3 is a handle by means of which the part 0 is forced away from part 0 against the resiliency of spring to disengage said parts.

P represents a combined shutter and interrupter, partp, forming the shutter and p the interrupter thereof. The combined shutter and interrupter P are mounted on the shaft N, being secured to part 0 of the clutch O, hence when said clutch is closed said combined shutter and interrupter rotates said shaft.

The function of the part 7) of said combined shutter, and interrupter is to exclude light from the cabinet during the time the ribbon X is in motion, and hence said combined shutter and interrupter P'is placed closely adjacent to the apertures admittin light 'on the pictures to be viewed, and which are closed by the doors C and D.

When the pictures on a transparent film are to be viewed, the combined curtain and reflector- E is in the position which is illustrated'by full lines in Fig; 2 and by broken lines in Fig. 5 of the drawing, the door C is open, as hereinbefore described, and when the device is in operation the aperture controlled by said door is successively bined shutter and interrupter P, must be adjustably mounted on shaft N and the clutch O, 0 is mounted on shaft N to permit said adjustment.

The engaging clutch teeth on said parts 0, 0 are so related that two positions (and only two) of the combined shutter and interrupter P on shaft N are possible; one thereof being the position timing the shutter part p, with the movement of ribbonX when door O is opened, and the other position timing the movement of said shutter part with the movement of said ribbon when the door D is open. The position of the clutch teeth on one of said parts 0, O is well illustrated in Fig. 4, of the draw- 11] s.

articular attention is called to the fact that the shaft N is at right angles to the axial line of the lens tubes G, G and the combined shutter and interrupter P is in a plane which is parallel to said axial line. Said combined shutter and interrupter is also in a. plane at right angles to the plane in which the picture is placed which is to be viewed; that is, said combined shutter and interrupter is in a vertical plane and said picture is in a horizontal plane.

To operate. the moving picture machine embodying this invention reels Y, Y are placed in the machine, the. film being on reel Y, with one end thereof attached to reel Y and passing over the table X. The lens tubes G, G are focused by means of the vertical rod H and connecting parts, and secured in adjusted position by. set screw 72;.- The reflector I is adjusted so that a picture viewed through the aperture formed by the walls B appears directly in front of the person looking into said aperture; the combined reflector and curtain E is adjusted substantially in the position in which it .is illustrated in Fig. 2; the door (.1 is opened and light is admitted through the aperture controlled by said door. The light admitted may be daylight or from lamp C as illustrated in Fig. 2.

I find when the machine is to be used dur-- ing day-light that the lamp C is often times not required.

'lhe crank in is then turned to wind the film on to the reel Y and a moving picture is to be seen through the aperture having walls B. More than one person can view :llll picture. The appearance of said picture is in many ways similar to the appearance which is obtained by passing the same film through an ordinary moving picture machine provided with lens and a source of light to throw the same. upon a curtain prepared therefor; the combined curtain and reflector E, in this machine forming the curtain on which the picture appears.

To display the pictures on an opaque ribbon the reels Y, Y, are connected as before described with said ribbon passing over the table X; the combined shutter and interrupter P is adjusted to proper position on shaft N the combined curtain and reflector E is placed substantially in the position thereof indicated by broken lines inFig. 2, the door D is opened (door C being closed) the lens tubes G, G and the reflector I are respectively adjusted, and the crank it is turned as before described. Suitable light, either sun-light or lamp light is admitted through the aperture controlled by said door D and the moving picture is to be seen as before described. The path of light illuminating the pictures on an opaque ribbon is illustrated in Fig. 5, (lettered X showing how, by means of the reflector E light is directed on the surface of the ribbon from both sides. And X illustrates the pathof light to and through a transparent film.

More than one of the hereinbefore described devices or units, may be placed in a given room or chamber, without the operation of one interfering with the operation of the other, and if placed on the side thereof from which light (not artificial) enters said room or chamber, the enlarged pictures in said respective machines may be viewed by one or more persons, on the turning of the crank shaft of the -machine-in proper manner. And because thereof, the said device is well adapted for use in museums, hospitals, school or college rooms, halls, libraries, and other educational institutions for the display of moving pictures concerning the subject matter of which a study is being made.

I claim 1. In a moving picture machine, means to enlarge one of a pluralityof pictures on a ribbon, means to present said enlarged picture to view in a substantially vertical plane, said ribbon being in a different plane, means to intermittently move said ribbon and successively bring said pictures into said different plane, a source of light positioned to one side of one edge of said ribbon, a movable shutter positioned in a vertical plane between said source of light and said ribbon, and meansto give said shutter a timed movement relative to the movement of said ribbon.

2. In a moving picture machine, means to enlarge one of a plurality of pictures on a ribbon, means to. present said enlarged picture to view in a substantially vertical plane, said ribbon being in a different plane, means to intermittently move said pictures into said different plane, a source of light to one side of one edge of said ribbon, means to direct light from said source of light to the picture which is being enlarged, a movable shutter positioned in a vertical plane between said source of light and said ribbon and means to give said shutter a timed movement relative to the movement of said pictures and ribbon.

3. A moving picture machine, comprising a cabinet provided with an aperture in one of the side walls thereof, said aperture adapted to admit light therethrough, means to enlarge one of a plurality of pictures on a ribbon, means to present said enlarged picture to view in a substantially vertical plane, said ribbon being in a different plane, means to intermittently move said ribbon and, successively bring said pictures into said different plane, a source of light positioned outside of said cabinet, a movable shutter positioned in a vertical plane, and adjacent to said apertured side wall, and means to give said shutter a timed movement relative to the movement of said pictures and ribbon.

t. A moving picture machine, comprising a cabinet provided with an aperture in one of the side walls thereof, said aperture adapted to admit light therethrough, means to enlarge one of a plurality of pictures on a ribbon, means to present said enlarged picture to viewin a substantially vertical plane, said ribbon being in a different plane, means to intermittently move said ribbon and successively bring said pictures into said different plane, a source of lightpositioned outside of said cabinet, a. movable shutter positioned in a vertical plane, and adjacent to said apertured side wall, a reflector adapted to direct light entering said cabinet through said aperture on said picture which is being enlarged, and means to give said shutter a timed movement relative to the movement of said pictures and ribbon.

5. In a moving picture machine, a cabinet, light apertures in a side wall of said cabinet and means to close said apertures, and a walled aperture in one of the front walls of said cabinet, means to enlarge a positioned one of a plurality of pietures on a ribbon, means to present said enlarged picture to view in said walled aperture apparently in a substantially vertical plane, while said ribbon is in a different plane, means to intermittently move said ribbon to successively place said pictures in said position to be enlarged, a source of light outside of said cabinet, a reflector adapted to direct light entering said cabinet from said source of light through a determined one of said first named apertures to said positioned picture, a movable shutter in said cabinet positioned in a vertical plane adjacent to said side wall of said cabinet, and adapted to alternately cover and uncover said apertures, and means to give said shutter a timed movement relative to the successive movements of said ribbon.

(5. In a m ving picture machine, a cabinet, light apertures in a side wall of said cabinet and means to close said apertures, and a walled aperture in one of the front walls of said cabinet, means to enlarge a positioned one of a plurality of pictures on a ribbon, means to present said enlarged picture to view in said walled aperture apparently in-a substantially vertical plane, while said ribbon is in a different plane, means to intermittently move said ribbon to suecessively place said pictures in said position to be enlarged, a source of light outside of said cabinet, a combined reflector and ourtain adapted to direct light entering said cabinet from said source of light through a determined one of said first named apertures, on to said positioned picture, and to form a back ground for said picture, a movable shutter in said cabinet positioned in a vertical plane, adjacent to said side wall of said cabinet, and adapted to alternately cover and uncover said apertures, and means to give said shutter a timed movement relativev to the successive movements of said ribbon.

7. In a moving picture machine, a cabinet provided with a walled aperture in one side thereof, and provided with light apertures on another side thereof, doors to said apertures, lens tubes at right angles to said walled aperture, a reflector movably mounted at the intersection of the axial planes of said walled aperture, and lens tubes, a horizontal table, means to successively place pictures on said horizontal table, said placing of said pictures comprising alternate periods of movement and rest, means to focus the lenses in said tubes to said picture at rest on said table, means to secure said tubes in said focused position, a shaft, a combined shutter and interrupter adjustably mounted on said shaft in a vertical plane adjacent to said light apertures, said 

